Wales vs Ireland: Detailed Review Of Their Matches
The battles between Wales v Ireland women’s football teams have been getting pretty spicy recently. Both teams have come a long way, and when they face off, it’s often a good show. Qualifier or friendly, there’s always something special in the air when these teams meet.
In this article, we’ll talk about the latest important games they’ve had, the players who made them memorable, and what we might see next time these rivals step on the field together.
Historical Overview of Wales vs. Ireland Women’s Football
Let’s take you back a bit. Wales and Ireland have been going at it for ages in women’s football. Fun fact: the first official women’s international match between Wales and the Republic of Ireland happened in May 1973.
For a while, both teams were, in a way, finding their feet, trying to build something special. The Irish had better setup early on—better fields, more money, that kind of stuff. But Wales? They’ve really stepped it up lately.
When these teams play now, it’s like watching women’s football grow up right in front of us. Back in the day, hardly anyone paid attention. Now? These games are proper events.
The crowds are bigger, the games mean much more. Just as fans create rankings of the best Arsenal players in 2024, people are now ranking and analyzing aspects of these international women’s matches.
Notable Wales v Ireland Women’s Football Matches
Below are some of the notable contests between the women football teams of the two nations.
1. Wales vs. Republic of Ireland – Euro 2025 Playoffs
Wales had their biggest moment ever in women’s football during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 playoffs. They had to play the Republic of Ireland twice—win these games and they’d make their first big tournament. The whole country was holding its breath.
Nobody had seen anything like this before in Welsh women’s soccer. The pressure was huge, and you could feel how much it meant to the players, fans, everyone who’d been waiting years for a shot like this.
First Leg (Cardiff)
The first game was tense. It ended 1-1, with both teams playing like their lives were on the line. Nobody could break through—just tough, solid defense all night. Welsh fans were pumped but nervous. They knew going to Dublin wasn’t going to be easy.
Second Leg (Dublin)
This is where it all went down. Hannah Cain stepped up to take that penalty in the 50th minute, and she made it 1-0. Then Carrie Jones pulled something special out of nowhere, making it 2-0 in the 67th minute. Irish fans went quiet.
Sure, Ireland got one back through Anna Patten late on, but Wales weren’t letting this slip. When that final whistle blew at 2-1 (3-2 total), it was pure mayhem. Wales had done it. It was history in the making.
After the Wales v Ireland women’s football score, Jess Fishlock was fulfilled. She’d been playing for Wales since ’06, seen all the heartbreaks, all the “almost made its.” The country’s record goal scorer said to BBC Sports:
“I can’t put it into words. This is 20 years in the making. I wouldn’t change a second of it.
“The ups and downs are part of the process and the journey. It all led to this moment with this group of girls.
“This is by far the proudest moment of my life. My hamstrings are shot but that doesn’t matter right now.”
2. Wales vs. Northern Ireland – Friendly Match (April 2023)
The last Wales v Northern Ireland women’s football game happened in Cardiff. It was supposed to be just a friendly. If only it was treated as one. Wales came out and decided to go crazy.
Match Highlights
Wales just couldn’t miss in a dominant display. Jess Fishlock got things started, then Angharad James and Hannah Cain piled on before halftime.
Rachel Rowe wasn’t going to miss out on the fun as she added one after the break. Northern Ireland’s Lauren Wade got one back in the 73rd minute, but it was way too late. Wales were just too hot, running away with it 4-1.
Significance
This game was Wales showing everyone they weren’t messing around anymore. After all those times Northern Ireland had knocked them out of tournaments? This felt really good. Wales got to flex their muscles, show off their attack, and prove they’d turned a corner. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland went home with some serious homework to do, especially on defense.
Comparing Each Team’s Progress
Wales and Ireland’s women’s teams both want to make their mark in world football, and here’s how they stack up:
Wales as a Nation on the Rise
Wales making it to Euro 2025 shows just how far they’ve come lately. Their coach Rhian Wilkinson has really got the team believing in themselves.
She’s got a good mix going, bringing in fresh young players while still counting on old hands like Jess Fishlock and Angharad James to show them the ropes. This mix of new and experienced players is a big reason why Wales is doing so well right now.
Beating the Republic of Ireland to get to the Euros got a lot more Welsh people excited about women’s football. Young girls are now dreaming of playing for Wales themselves one day. The country’s putting more money into football fields and youth teams too, which means Wales could keep getting stronger in European football.
Republic of Ireland’s Transitional Period
Ireland’s loss to Wales in the Euro 2025 playoffs really stung, especially since they’d been doing so well lately. They’d just played in their first World Cup at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and everyone thought they were on a roll. But then they lost that big game to Wales, and their coach Eileen Gleeson left, so now they’re trying to figure out what’s next.
They’ve still got their star players like Katie McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan holding things together, but they need to bring in some fresh faces too. The Irish Football Association is also trying to make their home league better so players can get more experience before playing for their country.
How Northern Ireland’s Building for the Future
Northern Ireland’s women’s team keeps getting better bit by bit. Getting to Euro 2022 was huge for them, but keeping that success going hasn’t been easy. When they played Wales in a friendly back in 2023, you could see both what they’re good at and what they need to work on.
Investments in coaching and player development, as well as efforts to professionalize the women’s game, will be crucial for Northern Ireland to remain competitive on the international stage.
How These Games Help Women’s Football Grow
When Wales and Ireland play each other, it’s about more than just who wins. These games get people talking about women’s football, fill up more seats in stadiums, and make young girls believe it could be them running around on the pitch.
Wales is riding high right now. Their team’s doing well, so more money is going into building better football fields and getting good coaches for girls and women. Over in Ireland, seeing players like Katie McCabe doing amazing things has got more people interested in women’s football, and more young players are joining local teams because of it.
Football Betting Tips: How to Use Hollywoodbets
Did you watch these Ireland v Wales women’s football games and feel like getting in on the action? Hollywoodbets might be your thing.
They started in South Africa but now they’re all over—Ireland, UK, you name it. They do these things called Matchflow and combo bets which let you get creative with your predictions. Super easy to use, and you can bet while the game’s happening.
Say Wales and Ireland are going at it—you can grab your winnings early with the cash-out option if things get wild. Want to bet on Wales scoring early or Fishlock having a big game?
Their Bet Builder lets you put all that together. They’re always throwing out good deals too like free bets and welcome bonuses. Got limited internet access? No worries. You can also try Hollywoodbets free mode. It allows you to place bets, view account details, and check match results without consuming mobile data.
Looking Ahead
Things are looking good for Wales and Ireland’s ongoing football rivalry. A Wales v Ireland women’s football game seems beneficial for each side. Both countries are helping their players get better and want to make their mark in world football, so we should see some great games between them soon.
Wales will want to make the most of their first-ever Euro tournament in 2025. As for both Irish teams, they’re not happy with how things have gone lately. They’ll be working extra hard to come back stronger and show everyone what they’re made of.
